Author

Grant Phipps

A Madison transplant, Grant has been writing about contemporary and repertory cinema since contributing to No Ripcord and LakeFrontRow; and he served as Tone Madison‘s film section editor for a handful of years before officially assuming an arts editor role in 2026. More recently, Grant has been involved with programming at Mills Folly Microcinema and one-off screenings at the Bartell Theatre. From mid-2016 thru early-2020, he also showcased his affinity for art songs and avant-progressive music on WSUM 91.7 FM. 🌱

Grant's Latest Articles

A pair of hands flip through a small box of photographs resting in bright-green grass. One of the 4x6 photo prints lays face up on the grass. Its faded colors show a woman holding a child on her lap.
Gabriella Cisneros’ “Impermanence” creates a lasting cinematic impression
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Film
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October 2, 2024

The Milwaukee-based filmmaker's latest short screens October 5 at the Midwest Video Poetry Fest, amid international selections and local, live collaborations.

A photo shows a large city bus pulling up to a station in the middle of a wide road. The bus is blue and white, and a grey accordion section in the middle joins its two halves. A figure is visible walking down the concrete platform of the station. Sky, tree, and a local coffee shop are visible in the background.
We set out in search of rapid on Metro Transit
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Politics
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September 30, 2024

Ground-level views from the long-awaited arrival of BRT.

Two people in their late teens stand outside a closed shop on the streets of 1960s San Francisco at night. The young man on the right stands with his arms at his sides, looking remorseful at the young woman on the left, who is sobbing with her arms crossed. Both are semi-formally dressed.
“Dogfight” is an unsentimental masterpiece about two souls searching
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Film
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September 16, 2024

Nancy Savoca's coming-of-age romance screens at UW Cinematheque on September 20.

A young man in a grey jumpsuit stands in a somewhat dimly lit spacecraft corridor. He has a perplexed, trepidatious expression.
Still collating: The mixed mutations of the “Alien” franchise
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Film
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September 11, 2024

Scott Gordon and Grant Phipps trade notes on "Alien: Romulus" and take stock of the series' cruel, expanding universe.

A middle-aged man in a black suit and tie stares into a camera with a serious expression. He sits at a desk with a pamphlet in front of him with a cover that reads "Inside SINA" and displays an illustration of a horse wearing pants.
Robert Downey, Sr.’s brazenly unfettered experimental satire
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Film
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August 29, 2024

The transgressive "Chafed Elbows" (1966) and "No More Excuses" (1968) both screen at MMoCA as part of Rooftop Cinema's season finale on September 5.

A modified graphic of the "Twitter Fail Whale," created by Yiying Lu. Eight orange birds lift up a white snoozing whale with a net. The background displays labyrinthine interior architecture rendered in shades of black and muddy purple colors.
Tone Madison is reducing its social media presence
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Misc
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August 28, 2024

We want to prioritize better ways to connect with our readers.

A custom illustration made by Luke Smith for the jacket of Peter McDonald's book, "Run And Jump: The Meaning Of The 2D Platformer." In various shades of green, including a dominant light lime green background, tiny anthropomorphic animals stand in front of a chalk board that illustrates a character model jumping.
Functional play in the abstract: an interview with game studies author Peter McDonald
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Culture
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August 5, 2024

The UW–Madison assistant professor discusses the philosophies behind his new book, “Run And Jump: The Meaning Of The 2D Platformer.”

A formally dressed couple on a luxury yacht perch on the bow and reach their arms out in a reenactment of the "king of the world" scene from "Titanic" (1997). The lights of the Sydney Opera House shine behind them in the distance.
“Anyone But You” depicts anyone but the working class
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Film
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July 24, 2024

Will Gluck's semi-charming, but oblivious romantic comedy screens at the Memorial Union Terrace on July 29.

Against a golden-orange CGI city backdrop, two actors stand atop a platform in dark formal attire. The man on the left peers through a spyglass at a hexagon-shaped slide in his other hand. The woman, behind him, looks over at him with intrigue.
What will the future of cinema look like?
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Film
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July 16, 2024

Film editor Grant Phipps and contributor Maxwell Courtright effusively ponder a question suggested by filmmaker Gina Telaroli.

A woman and man in their early 40s stand outside a movie theater at night in front of an illuminated poster display case that contains films from various eras. The couple look at one another with soft endearment, as the woman on the left folds a piece of paper and prepares to hand it to the man on the right.
“Fallen Leaves” records a lasting love letter to the movies and to romantic well-being
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Film
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July 1, 2024

Aki Kaurismäki's latest brisk, endearing feature screens at UW Cinematheque on July 4.